God in glorifying and worshipping Him setting no limits on her moral
progress. Also, Islam established a woman equality in her humanity
with men. In the Quran, in the first verse of the chapter entitled
Women,

God says:

O mankind! Be careful of your duty toward your Lord who created you from a
single soul
and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of
men and women. Be careful of your duty toward God in Whom you claim
(your rights) of one another, and towards the wombs (that bore you).
Lo! God has been a Watcher over you. (Quran 4:1)

Since men and women both came
from the same essence, they are equal in their humanity.
Women cannot be by nature evil (as some religions teach) or then men
would be evil also. Similarly, neither gender can be superior
because it would be a contradiction to equality.

Civil RightsIn Islam, a
woman has the basic freedoms of choice and expression based on
recognition of her individual personality. First, a non-Muslim woman
can not be forced to convert for marriage,
or upon the conversion of parents.

The Quran states:

There is no compulsion in religion.

Right has been
made distinct from error. (Quran 2:256)

Women are encouraged in Islam
to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are many traditions
of the Prophet which indicate that women would

pose questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning
religion,

economics and
social matters.

A Muslim woman has full right to approve or
deny a proposal of marriage, and her name is to be kept after marriage.
A Muslim woman testimony is valid in legal disputes. In fact, where
women are more familiar, their evidence is conclusive.

other types of knowledge. Men and women
both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also
their obligation to promote good behavior and condemn

bad behaviorin all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the
appropriate

education to
perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and
interests.

While bearing, raising and teaching of
children, and providing support to her husband and maintenance of a home
are among the first, and very highly regarded, roles for a woman,if she
has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she
may do,
so as long as her family obligations are met.

Islam recognizes and fosters the natural differences between men and
women despite

their equality. Some types
of work are more suitable for men and other types for women. This
in no way diminishes eithers efforts or benefits. God will reward
both sexes equally for the value of their work, through, it may not
necessarily be the same activity.

Concerning motherhood, the Prophet
said:

Heaven lies under her feet. (An-Nasai)

This implies that the success
of a society can be traced to the mothers

who raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person
comes from the sense of security,

affection, and training received from the mother.

Therefore, a woman having children must be
educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.

Political RightsA
right given to Muslim women by God 1400 years ago is the right to

voice her opinion on social issues.
On any public matter, a woman may voice her opinion and participate in
politics. Also, Islam does not forbid a woman from holding
important positions in government which suit her role as a woman.
Abdurrahman Ibn Awf consulted many women before he recommended

Uthman Ibn Affan to be the Caliph.

Economic Rights
Islam is clear in its teachings that God created men and women to be
different,

with unique roles, functions and skills. As
in society, where there is a division of labor,

so too in a family, each member has different responsibilities.
Generally, Islam upholds that women are entrusted with the nurturing
role, and men,

with the
guardian role.

Therefore, women are given the right of financial support.

The Quran
states:

Men are the maintainers of women because God has made some of them

to excel others and
because they spend of their wealth (for the
support of women).